| Question: |
I have just begun to home school this year, and really it's only been a few days of it so far. My concern is that it seems to be going too quickly for us. My oldest is 8, and then I have a 5 and almost 4 year old I'm schooling. Our work is getting done in a matter of an hour or a little more. I'm totally following the curriculum, and usually we do more than is even called for. So I just needed to know if this was okay or normal for anyone else. The 8 year old is the type to get stuff done because he hates school stuff, and he knows he can be "free" once he's done, and the 5 year old just loves school so she does everything as asked and more because she knows so much of the work already. With the almost 4 year old, I just don't stress over her, she does her own pace--usually exactly what the curriculum calls for, a page or so a day. |
| Answer: |
Dear Parent, Congratulations on your first year of home schooling. Home schooling does seem to go quickly on some days. Just wait, you will have days when no home schooling gets done, for one reason or another. The amount of time you mention is perfectly normal. How much time you spend home schooling depends upon how organized you are, how motivated the children are, and the subject. The CHC lesson plans help you stay organized and are intended to be user-friendly so that you don't spend all day teaching. The elementary grades will take less time than middle school and high school. You may be thrown off by the fact that elementary, middle, and high schools go all day. Large classes often take more time because the teacher must accommodate a number of children, and they are coming and going for drinks and bathroom breaks and talking and so on. In your home school situation, you are not having to deal with discipline and administrative issues that are necessary in large classes. As long as you follow the curriculum, your children will be on track. If your five year old can learn her lessons in one hour, why make her take two hours? However, if she wants to spend more time and go further with a lesson or activity, let her. Some days your children may want to do more, and some days they may want to do the minimum. You can spend the rest of the day playing games or working on chores and hobbies that interest you and the children. They will still be learning! Learning will not stop when they complete the formal academic lessons for the day.
Your eight year old and five year old both sound motivated although for different reasons, which is perfectly okay. Your eight year old may learn a great deal informally by doing other meaningful activities once he's completed the "school stuff." Many activities, such as cooking, dominoes, computer games, and puzzles, require math and reading skills. Playing with clay, painting, and building a tower require fine motor skills and creativity. However, encourage him to do complete and neat work whatever he is doing--lessons, hobbies, sports, and games, including clean up afterward. Make sure he's not just getting his lessons done any old way to be done. You may want to give a few (but not too many) enrichment activities to the five year old when she seems eager for more. One hour a day is plenty of time for a five year old whereas two hours might burn her out because home schooling can be intense. There is little wait time in home schooling. You aren't waiting for the bell or for other classmates to finish or to have your papers handed out. You are right not to stress over the four year old. She's doing what she can do, and you don't want her feeling rushed or overwhelmed as she begins schooling. May God bless you and your children. Sandra Garant
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